Ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah turned a rare four-spinner gamble into his personal stage, delivering a mesmerising exhibition of seam, swing and control as India bowled out South Africa for a paltry 159
on the first day of the opening Test, Friday.
On a surface scrutinised for its dryness, prompting India to field four spinners for the first time since 2012, it was India’s pace star who dominated, returning impressive figures of 14-2-27-5, his 16th five-wicket haul in 96 innings.
Bumrah showcased his mastery in just over two sessions as South Africa collapsed from a strong 57 for no loss in 10 overs to losing all 10 wickets for just 102 runs in the next 45 overs, with their innings lasting only four hours and 13 minutes after choosing to bat.
This was South Africa’s second-lowest total after a fifty-plus opening stand in men’s Tests since their readmission. The lowest is 130 in their second innings in the 2018 Cape Town Test, also against India, after a 52-run opening stand.
India closed the day at 37 for one in 20 overs, with a resolute KL Rahul (13 not out from 59 balls) and Washington Sundar (six not out from 38 balls) steady at the crease after Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) dragged Marco Jansen onto his stumps while playing close to his body.
The pair looked in no hurry on a pitch offering spice and variable bounce, cutting the deficit to 122 runs in front of a sizeable Eden crowd of over 36,000.
As light faded, South Africa crowded the bat with close-in fielders, hoping for a late breakthrough and used five bowlers. However, Rahul and Sundar remained calm and assured, seeing out the final overs without further damage.
South Africa, missing their lead pacer Kagiso Rabada due to a rib injury, seemed poised for a big score after Aiden Markram (31 from 48 balls; 5×4, 1×6) and Ryan Rickelton’s (23 off 22 balls; 4×4) brisk opening stand.
Markram, after 23 dot balls, opened up with a straight drive and a flowing cover drive, later twice punishing Axar Patel and unfurling a deft late cut past backward point.
He also launched Axar for a wristy six over midwicket as the run-rate surged above five an over. At the other end, Rickelton’s hit-and-miss 22 off 23 balls (4×4) added to India’s frustration.
But just before the drinks break in the opening session, Bumrah from the Clubhouse end turned the morning around with two wickets in five balls across successive overs in his first spell that read 7-4-9-2.
A 140 kmph length ball straightened late to uproot Rickelton’s off stump, and minutes later a short-of-length delivery leapt spitefully to take Markram’s glove — the contrast in bounce summing up the pitch’s variable nature.
He returned after lunch to trap Tony de Zorzi (24) in front with one that skidded through, before closing out the second session with a reverse swing that split open the tail.
Star South Africa off-spinner Simon Harmer’s stumps were sent cartwheeled and three balls later, Keshav Maharaj was pinned plumb in front.
Siraj, Kuldeep tighten the noose
Star India pacer Mohammed Siraj (2/47), after leaking 34 runs from six overs in the first session, delivered a sharp twin strike in the second, removing Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen in four deliveries in his 10th over.
Verreynne (16) burned South Africa’s last review after being struck pad-then-bat, while Jansen was breached by a reversing length ball that darted in.
Star India spinner Kuldeep Yadav (2/29) contributed with the key wicket of captain Temba Bavuma, snared at leg slip by Dhruv Jurel and later removed a compact-looking Wiaan Mulder (24).
After the early losses of Bavuma and the openers, Mulder and Tony de Zorzi attempted to stabilise the innings with circumspect batting.
Mulder applied himself for more than 50 balls, looked compact against India’s four-pronged spin attack, but lost focus 15 minutes into the second session.
Attempting to break free with a reverse sweep against Kuldeep, he missed completely and was trapped lbw, a key dismissal that opened the floodgates with Bumrah and then Siraj’s twin strike compounding South Africa’s woes.
Star India allrounder Axar Patel (1/21) removed Corbin Bosch at tea as India maintained relentless pressure.
(With PTI Inputs)
